Perhaps you’ve heard of 401Ks or already contribute to one, and you’re intrigued about how you can use them to fund your retirement. These employer-sponsored plans are there to help you do just that, so it’s in your best interest to take advantage of one, especially if your company offers saving incentives, like a company match. We asked Robert Dowling, a financial planner with Modera Wealth Management in Westwood, New Jersey, who’s worked with high net worth individuals for 18 years, for tips on getting the most from your 401K. Here’s what he said.

1. Contribute More Than 3%

Most people who sign up for a 401K start out by contributing 3% of their salary, Dowling said. But if your budget can handle it, it wouldn’t hurt to raise that percentage, even just a bit. “Try to participate as much as you can without putting yourself in dire straits,” he said, noting the danger of overspending. Over time, your savings will thank you. (Concerned that your spending is out of control? You can get a sense of where your debts stand by viewing two of your free credit scores on Credit.com.) “We suggest every year to work it into your expectations to increase your contributions by 1%,” Dowling said. Some plans even allow you to fill out paperwork so your contributions rise automatically.

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2. Enroll in Your Company’s Match

“Take advantage of your company match to maximize company contributions,” said Dowling. “It can be quite powerful.” And besides, it’s free money!

3. Know Your Company’s Vesting Schedule

While taking advantage of your company match can help you boost contributions, you won’t get far if you leave the company before they’ve vested — i.e., the company’s given you ownership. “What a company will say is, We will reward you with matching contributions, however, we want you to work for us for a certain period of time,” Dowling explained. So it’s important to know what that schedule is, especially if you’ve got one foot out the door. With the schedule in mind, you’ll be able to ask yourself if it makes sense to forfeit the company’s share of your savings rather than stick it out.

4. Play Catch-Up With Your Contributions

Those under 50 can contribute a maximum amount of $18,000 to their 401K every year, said Dowling. However, if you’re 50 or older, that maximum jumps to $24,000, meaning you can contribute an extra $6,000. “Sometimes folks aren’t aware of that,” he said, so “we remind clients to start their catch-up contributions,” as the provision is called, “early.”

5. Sock Away Your Bonus

When someone says “bonus,” we can’t help but think of steak and fancy nights on the town. But the fact is, the more you can contribute to your 401K early on, the better prepared you’ll be for whatever life throws your way later, Dowling said. Also, if you’re having a hard time making those weekly, bi-weekly or monthly contributions, what better way to get a leg up than by throwing your bonus right into retirement savings? Bonus points if you tell HR that’s your plan, Dowling said, since companies tend to view this as a longterm benefit. You can even ask to have the bonus direct deposited into your account.

6. Take Out a Loan

Though we’d never recommend borrowing money you can’t afford to pay back, it is helpful to know you have the option to borrow against your 401K. According to Dowling, some programs allow this, and you can take out up to $50,000. Rather than pay interest to a creditor, with a 401K you pay it back to yourself by putting the money in the plan, Dowling said. There can be penalties for defaulting on these loans, so make sure to do your research before choosing this option.

Image: Xavier Arnau

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Jill Krasny is a former editor for Credit.com. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, The Financial Times and Travel + Leisure.

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